Peter Hounam
A DECISION by the Israeli Supreme Court to send Mordechai Vanunu, the nuclear whistleblower, back to jail for three months has reignited calls for him to be freed from restrictions that have dogged his life for the past six years.
Amnesty International has pledged to make him a prisoner of conscience and his lawyers are considering taking action outside Israel.
Vanunu was released in 2004 after serving an 18-year sentence for treason and espionage after he revealed the secrets of the Dimona atomic weapons plant to The Sunday Times. The Israeli government immediately imposed severe restrictions that prohibited him from leaving the country, going near foreign embassies and even talking to foreigners.
In 2007 he was arrested and accused of giving interviews to foreign media, including the BBC and The Sunday Times. After a long court battle he was found guilty. His lawyers managed to have his sentence reduced to community service. But there was no community service scheme in Arab east Jerusalem, the only part of Israel where he feels safe.
Avigdor Feldman, his lawyer, said the decision on May 11 to impose the original sentence and make him report to prison next Sunday was grotesque.
“After being found guilty in 1988 he was kept in solitary confinement for more than 11 years and I am very worried at the effect this could have on his mental state,” Feldman said. “All he has been accused of is talking to strangers, not revealing any new secrets. It is surely time he was allowed to lead a normal life.”
Dan Eldad, of the state prosecution service, said there was no other choice. “The court was convinced that Vanunu is in possession of information that, if revealed, would jeopardise the state’s security even today,” he said.
This contradicts a recent statement from Brigadier-General Uzi Eilam, who ran the Israel Atomic Energy Commission between 1976 and 1986. He said anything Vanunu might yet disclose about Dimona had little relevance: “I’ve always believed he should be let go.”
Vanunu’s brother Meir said the threat of going to jail had put Mordechai in low spirits. He was walking around the hills of east Jerusalem, getting a last taste of the outdoors.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article7127711.ece
Showing posts with label nuclear issues. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nuclear issues. Show all posts
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Monday, April 26, 2010
Gadhafi: US nuclear snub of Libya hurts peace
By MATTHEW LEE
The Associated Press
Monday, April 26, 2010; 5:08 PM
WASHINGTON -- Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi complained Monday that the Obama administration had not invited him to a nuclear security summit earlier this month in Washington and said the snub would hurt efforts to rid the world of nuclear weapons.
Gadhafi, speaking via video link from Tripoli, said the failure to invite Libya was a "political blunder" as it was the most recent nation to give up its weapons of mass destruction programs voluntarily. He said not rewarding Libya's move with an invitation made it difficult to persuade Iran or North Korea to abandon its nuclear ambitions.
"It was a mistake," he told a conference on U.S.-Libyan relations.
"Libya should have been invited, should have been thanked," Gadhafi said. "It was not useful for world peace and it was not useful for disarmament. It does not encourage others to follow Libya's example. I would really like to express my strong regret for Libya not having been invited to that conference."
In his comments on Monday, Gadhafi repeated his past criticism of Israel on the nuclear issue, saying it was not fair for one country in the Middle East to possess atomic weapons while others are denied them. He also said the West has not shown sufficient gratitude to Libya for its contribution to non-proliferation.
Gadhafi renounced terrorism and dismantled his country's nuclear, chemical and biological weapons development in 2003, leading to normalization of relations with the United States after decades of pariah status.
Both President Barack Obama and his predecessor, President George W. Bush, have pointed to Libya as proof that countries can benefit by giving up weapons of mass destruction.
But Gadhafi, who has complained that the reward of improved ties with the U.S. and the West has not translated into a greater economic windfall, said he did not have much leverage with Iran or North Korea in convincing them to follow suit because "Libya has not been compensated for its good deed."
"Therefore, the Libyan example is not attractive to them," he said. "We were not even invited to the nuclear security conference so we really don't have much of a strong argument that we can use with Iran or North Korea."
Obama hosted more than 40 world leaders and senior officials at the April 12-13 summit, including several from countries that have given up nuclear weapons or programs to develop them. Libya was not invited and U.S. officials said after the summit that Libya had summoned U.S. ambassador to Tripoli to vent its anger at the snub.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/26/AR2010042602632.html
The Associated Press
Monday, April 26, 2010; 5:08 PM
WASHINGTON -- Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi complained Monday that the Obama administration had not invited him to a nuclear security summit earlier this month in Washington and said the snub would hurt efforts to rid the world of nuclear weapons.
Gadhafi, speaking via video link from Tripoli, said the failure to invite Libya was a "political blunder" as it was the most recent nation to give up its weapons of mass destruction programs voluntarily. He said not rewarding Libya's move with an invitation made it difficult to persuade Iran or North Korea to abandon its nuclear ambitions.
"It was a mistake," he told a conference on U.S.-Libyan relations.
"Libya should have been invited, should have been thanked," Gadhafi said. "It was not useful for world peace and it was not useful for disarmament. It does not encourage others to follow Libya's example. I would really like to express my strong regret for Libya not having been invited to that conference."
In his comments on Monday, Gadhafi repeated his past criticism of Israel on the nuclear issue, saying it was not fair for one country in the Middle East to possess atomic weapons while others are denied them. He also said the West has not shown sufficient gratitude to Libya for its contribution to non-proliferation.
Gadhafi renounced terrorism and dismantled his country's nuclear, chemical and biological weapons development in 2003, leading to normalization of relations with the United States after decades of pariah status.
Both President Barack Obama and his predecessor, President George W. Bush, have pointed to Libya as proof that countries can benefit by giving up weapons of mass destruction.
But Gadhafi, who has complained that the reward of improved ties with the U.S. and the West has not translated into a greater economic windfall, said he did not have much leverage with Iran or North Korea in convincing them to follow suit because "Libya has not been compensated for its good deed."
"Therefore, the Libyan example is not attractive to them," he said. "We were not even invited to the nuclear security conference so we really don't have much of a strong argument that we can use with Iran or North Korea."
Obama hosted more than 40 world leaders and senior officials at the April 12-13 summit, including several from countries that have given up nuclear weapons or programs to develop them. Libya was not invited and U.S. officials said after the summit that Libya had summoned U.S. ambassador to Tripoli to vent its anger at the snub.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/26/AR2010042602632.html
Friday, April 23, 2010
US Rules Out Removing Its Nukes From Europe
Officials Insist Nukes 'Essential'
by Jason Ditz, April 22, 2010
Email This | Print This | Share This | Comment | Antiwar Forum
Despite increased calls from European officials to remove them, the United States today ruled out moving its hundreds of “battlefield nukes” from Europe, insisting that they must remain to ensure that Europe shares the “nuclear risks and responsibilities.”
The comments came in response to an open letter from a number of high ranking European officials, who said that the nukes were a Cold War relic with no practical value and were just a constant danger. They are also in conflict with President Obama’s ostensible hope for nuclear disarmament.
NATO Chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen defended the US position, saying the nukes remain “essential” as a deterrent. What the nations of Europe are supposed to need hundreds of nuclear weapons as a deterrent against, however, is unclear.
German FM Guido Westerwelle says that the withdrawal of the weapons would be a “peace dividend,” while his Polish counterpark Radek Sikorski added that there were “far too many” nuclear weapons in Europe.
http://news.antiwar.com/2010/04/22/us-rules-out-removing-its-nukes-from-europe/
by Jason Ditz, April 22, 2010
Email This | Print This | Share This | Comment | Antiwar Forum
Despite increased calls from European officials to remove them, the United States today ruled out moving its hundreds of “battlefield nukes” from Europe, insisting that they must remain to ensure that Europe shares the “nuclear risks and responsibilities.”
The comments came in response to an open letter from a number of high ranking European officials, who said that the nukes were a Cold War relic with no practical value and were just a constant danger. They are also in conflict with President Obama’s ostensible hope for nuclear disarmament.
NATO Chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen defended the US position, saying the nukes remain “essential” as a deterrent. What the nations of Europe are supposed to need hundreds of nuclear weapons as a deterrent against, however, is unclear.
German FM Guido Westerwelle says that the withdrawal of the weapons would be a “peace dividend,” while his Polish counterpark Radek Sikorski added that there were “far too many” nuclear weapons in Europe.
http://news.antiwar.com/2010/04/22/us-rules-out-removing-its-nukes-from-europe/
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Iran calls US nukes tool of terror, intimidation
Iran's supreme leader tells nuclear meeting that US atomic weapons are tool of terror
Staff
AP News
Apr 17, 2010 07:15 EDT
Iran's supreme leader has told a nuclear disarmament conference in Tehran that the United States' nuclear weapons are a tool of terror and intimidation.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Saturday that America deceptively calls for non-proliferation while holding on to its own weapons.
According to Iranian media, the two-day conference brought together representatives from 60 countries as well as delegates from international bodies and non-governmental organizations.
It appeared timed as a counterweight to President Barack Obama's 47-nation summit in Washington last week to discuss nuclear security. Obama did not invite Iran, which the U.S. fears is using a civilian nuclear program as cover to develop a weapons capability. Iran denies that.
Source: AP News
http://wire.antiwar.com/2010/04/17/iran-calls-us-nukes-tool-of-terror-intimidation/
Staff
AP News
Apr 17, 2010 07:15 EDT
Iran's supreme leader has told a nuclear disarmament conference in Tehran that the United States' nuclear weapons are a tool of terror and intimidation.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Saturday that America deceptively calls for non-proliferation while holding on to its own weapons.
According to Iranian media, the two-day conference brought together representatives from 60 countries as well as delegates from international bodies and non-governmental organizations.
It appeared timed as a counterweight to President Barack Obama's 47-nation summit in Washington last week to discuss nuclear security. Obama did not invite Iran, which the U.S. fears is using a civilian nuclear program as cover to develop a weapons capability. Iran denies that.
Source: AP News
http://wire.antiwar.com/2010/04/17/iran-calls-us-nukes-tool-of-terror-intimidation/
Friday, April 16, 2010
Iran to open nuclear summit
The Iranian leadership has criticised the US for its own large stockpile of nuclear weapons [AFP]
Iran is set to open a summit on nuclear energy and security as a counter to last week's conference held by Barack Obama in the United States.
The meeting, beginning in Tehran on Saturday, has been dubbed "Nuclear Energy for All, Nuclear Weapons for No-One".
Twenty-four foreign and deputy foreign ministers will attend the two-day summit, state media reported, with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad delivering the opening speech.
The names of the countries represented were not given in the report, but European and other Western officials are not thought likely to attend.
Speaking to Al Jazeera ahead of the meeting Manouchehr Mottaki, Iran's foreign minister, said that the Iranian government was stressing the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
"While Washington discussed the protection of nuclear material, in this coming conference, we will emphasise the necessity of disarmament"
Manouchehr Mottaki, Iranian foreign minister
"Last week, we celebrated successful steps in nuclear activities for Iran, and in that meeting with Ahmadinejad, we stressed that nuclear energy must be for everybody," he said.
"While Washington discussed the protection of nuclear material, in this coming conference, we will emphasise the necessity of disarmament."
Mottaki also told Al Jazeera that there would be some form of American representation at the nuclear summit.
However, the US state department has denied that claim to Al Jazeera saying no US official had been invited.
Iran criticised the 47-nation nuclear security summit hosted in Washington earlier this week by Barack Obama, the US president, on the grounds that the US holds one of the world's largest stocks of nuclear weapons.
Officials from Iran were not invited but Mottaki told Al Jazeera that he would have considered attending if invited.
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2010/04/201041623302176311.html
Iran is set to open a summit on nuclear energy and security as a counter to last week's conference held by Barack Obama in the United States.
The meeting, beginning in Tehran on Saturday, has been dubbed "Nuclear Energy for All, Nuclear Weapons for No-One".
Twenty-four foreign and deputy foreign ministers will attend the two-day summit, state media reported, with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad delivering the opening speech.
The names of the countries represented were not given in the report, but European and other Western officials are not thought likely to attend.
Speaking to Al Jazeera ahead of the meeting Manouchehr Mottaki, Iran's foreign minister, said that the Iranian government was stressing the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
"While Washington discussed the protection of nuclear material, in this coming conference, we will emphasise the necessity of disarmament"
Manouchehr Mottaki, Iranian foreign minister
"Last week, we celebrated successful steps in nuclear activities for Iran, and in that meeting with Ahmadinejad, we stressed that nuclear energy must be for everybody," he said.
"While Washington discussed the protection of nuclear material, in this coming conference, we will emphasise the necessity of disarmament."
Mottaki also told Al Jazeera that there would be some form of American representation at the nuclear summit.
However, the US state department has denied that claim to Al Jazeera saying no US official had been invited.
Iran criticised the 47-nation nuclear security summit hosted in Washington earlier this week by Barack Obama, the US president, on the grounds that the US holds one of the world's largest stocks of nuclear weapons.
Officials from Iran were not invited but Mottaki told Al Jazeera that he would have considered attending if invited.
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2010/04/201041623302176311.html
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Israel Dismisses Obama Call to Join Nuclear NPT
Minister: Obama Fine With Israel's 'Nuclear Ambiguity'
by Jason Ditz, April 14, 2010
As with previous discussions of the possibility, Israeli officials today reacted negatively to yesterday’s comment by President Obama in support of seeing Israel join the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
But exactly how serious Obama’s comments even were is unclear. The president went out of his way to avoid the issue during the summit, and only mentioned that position when pressed. Moreover the US vigorously opposed an IAEA measure urging Israel to join the NPT late last year.
In fact according to Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon, the Obama Administration has never asked them to change their policy of “nuclear ambiguity,” whereby Israel refuses to admit to its massive nuclear arsenal and refuses to join any group which would subject them to any sort of oversight.
http://news.antiwar.com/2010/04/14/israel-dismisses-obama-call-to-join-npt/
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